Queen contest planned for Kids Rodeo

The Kids' Rodeo has a queen, a junior princess and a tiny tot princess. The age ranges are the same as for the rodeo contests: tiny tots, ages 6 through 9; junior girls, ages 10 through 13; senior girls, ages 14 through 17.

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By Bette McFarren

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By Bette McFarren

Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM

By Bette McFarren
Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM

The Kids' Rodeo has a queen, a junior princess and a tiny tot princess. The age ranges are the same as for the rodeo contests: tiny tots, ages 6 through 9; junior girls, ages 10 through 13; senior girls, ages 14 through 17. All the girls must enter at least one rodeo event: barrels, pole bending, flag race, goat tying, breakaway roping, racing, for example. For the tiny tots, the race is a Shetland pony race. Darla Miller, the chief hand at the organizing of this rodeo, said there are races for girls in every age division. They very seldom have a queen entry who does not compete in more than one rodeo event. These are real cowgirls.

If you are interested, Miller said, be sure to pick up a packet so that you can practice the horsemanship portion of the contest. Call Miller at 853-6696 or 242-8186 to get a packet. The horsemanship includes a reining pattern, which, even for the tiny tots, includes stopping and backing up the horse and doing a figure eight pattern. A teacher for the tiny tots division suggests that the small girls be shown a drawing of what is expected, trace it with their finger, walk the pattern in the arena, then do it on horseback.

A change is planned for this year's queen contest, said Darla Miller. Instead of doing the horsemanship first, then going home and refreshing themselves for the modeling and interview, they will do the modeling and interview first. This portion of the contest is held at the Valley Cowboy Community Church, located near the Kids Rodeo grounds. The contestants should be at the church at 8 a.m. The contest starts at 8:30 a.m. The winner is announced immediately after the contest is completed. The church, near the rodeo grounds, has been the site of the modeling and interview for several years, and also serves as an organization center.

The queen always has a busy year ahead of her, because she is queen for the entire year. She is encouraged to ride in as many parades as possible, and must ride in the Kids Rodeo Parade, along with the junior princess and the tiny tot princess. Other activities include soliciting donations and handing out awards. They also have a money-making project, selling lotion to help with expenses. They each have their own labels for the lotion. The queen and princesses usually appear at the Arkansas Valley Fair Parade, Crowley County Days and Missouri Days. This year they appeared at the Santa Fe Trail Day.

The big dream, said Miller, is to appear at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. Miller said that not all entry fees are jackpotted; some are used for expenses and for prizes. Donations of prizes are gratefully accepted. The queen's saddle, this year and last, was supplied by the drivers of Chester Bay Trucking.